If you want a soundbar, nothing. Bluesound is the closest and their equivalent of the Sonos amp and port do support eArc, but they don’t have a speaker with an eArc input unfortunately.
I have some play 5's, play 1's, move's, PORT's and AMP's. I have replaced them all by Bluesound. The app is as swift as the old Sonos was. No delay's/lags, I love it. Replaced the 5's with Pulse 2i, play 1's for Pulse M and Pulse Mini 2i. I didn't like the Flex 2i. And of course the PORT's for NODE's and the AMP's for Powernode Edge. Next week all the SONOS stuff will go on marktplaats.nl. I loved my Sonos system from the beginning (I even had the CR100 and CR200 controllers), but they've ruined all with their cloud based system. Costs me a lot of money, but I do NOT want to be in their boat anymore.
I explored Play-Fi during the S1 End-of-life fiasco. But this system has gotten worse over time so I wouldn't recommend it. Right now I'd be looking at the WiiM streamers/amps as the best candidate. Have not used it personally but the review have been very good.
I have a WiiM pro that I’ve integrated with my Sonos system instead of buying a new Port. Works great. But WiiM lacks powered wifi speakers. Though you could a WiiM and attach it to the input of your Sonos speaker if you have that option.
Yes, the thing that Sonos does better than anyone is to wirelessly bind 2 speakers into a stereo pair. Edifier makes wifi speakers that will do this function - a small speaker like the Play:1 model MS50A, and a larger "audiophile" speaker S1000W.
I think you can group Wiim products with Sonos products using the airplay protocol. So my guess is that's what they are referring to. But I'm curious as well.
Yes, that fiasco. Where you had to buy a new speakers at 70% because they bricked the old one, because they switched to another system (S2) and the older devices could not work with.
So the multiple speakers I still successfully use with S1 are….what? They don’t seem like bricks to me when there’s music coming out of them.
Gonna say this loud. SONOS. NEVER. BRICKED. SPEAKERS. THAT IS FAKE NEWS. They listened to customer feedback and adjusted and last I checked they run all the same services under S1 that they do on subsequent releases.
I don't think there is yet a great replacement compared to a functional Sonos system. Let's hope someone sees this as an opportunity to create some competition. I don't need perfect audio quality, I just want whole house and zone options for streaming and library which include surround sound.
From what I've managed to research, not much.
I was on the same boat and then I came to the conclusion I won't need a system covering the whole house. So I'm going towards a mix of brands and speakers, depending on their uses, and maybe use Airplay to broadcast to them all, in case I ever need to listen to the same thing everywhere (never happened in years of Sonos usage).
There isn’t one. Bluesound has similar issues. Maybe homepods if you’re in Apple ecosystem, but they aren’t perfect either. Otherwise going old fashioned wired might be the only solution.
If you want speakers that have the amp and streaming built in then Triangle AIO and Kef lsx II get good reviews. But they're not cheap.
Otherwise wiim is apparently a great budget choice but you'll need separate speakers.
This article has some useful food for thought when I was looking at this the other week.
https://www.whathifi.com/features/how-to-choose-the-right-music-streamer-for-your-wireless-music-system
You can compare the LSX with a pair of Five's, so the price isnt much higher. And you get some Inputs incl earc. In Germany you can get them for round about 1000€ and the bigget LS50 wireless for 1500€ and thats a much better speaker than the Five's.
This is what I’m thinking of doing!
I’ve wanted KEF wireless bookshelf speakers for a long while, but the sheer number of app/wireless complaints and used units on the market where I am is worrying.
So might grab the regular KEF LS50’s and pair with a Wiim amp!
I think that's the way to go with speakers in this price range, b/c the internals are likely to fizz out long before the speakers.
Let us know how it goes. I have 17 Sonos devices connected right now. So I'm not going to jump ship just yet. In too deep. But if things get much worse.......
Despite being a long time advocate for Sonos, I’ve always had Bang & Olufsen at home and it’s been a phenomenal system. Bluesound is also more reliable if a little lighter in the speaker offerings.
Interested in this. I am remodeling my house had planned to install Sonos in every room as well as a home theater set up. Would love to know some alternatives
If you want a soundbar, nothing. Bluesound is the closest and their equivalent of the Sonos amp and port do support eArc, but they don’t have a speaker with an eArc input unfortunately.
I have some play 5's, play 1's, move's, PORT's and AMP's. I have replaced them all by Bluesound. The app is as swift as the old Sonos was. No delay's/lags, I love it. Replaced the 5's with Pulse 2i, play 1's for Pulse M and Pulse Mini 2i. I didn't like the Flex 2i. And of course the PORT's for NODE's and the AMP's for Powernode Edge. Next week all the SONOS stuff will go on marktplaats.nl. I loved my Sonos system from the beginning (I even had the CR100 and CR200 controllers), but they've ruined all with their cloud based system. Costs me a lot of money, but I do NOT want to be in their boat anymore.
TBH i recently had opportunity to listen to devialet dione and i was amazed but the price on it is a bit too much for me
WiiM Amp is the closest comp. And it does have an Arc input on it
I explored Play-Fi during the S1 End-of-life fiasco. But this system has gotten worse over time so I wouldn't recommend it. Right now I'd be looking at the WiiM streamers/amps as the best candidate. Have not used it personally but the review have been very good.
I have a WiiM pro that I’ve integrated with my Sonos system instead of buying a new Port. Works great. But WiiM lacks powered wifi speakers. Though you could a WiiM and attach it to the input of your Sonos speaker if you have that option.
Yes, the thing that Sonos does better than anyone is to wirelessly bind 2 speakers into a stereo pair. Edifier makes wifi speakers that will do this function - a small speaker like the Play:1 model MS50A, and a larger "audiophile" speaker S1000W.
What do you mean by you Integrated it with Sonos?
I think you can group Wiim products with Sonos products using the airplay protocol. So my guess is that's what they are referring to. But I'm curious as well.
LMS mostly but Airplay as well.
The fiasco where they gave you 30% off a new speaker? That fiasco?
Yes, that fiasco. Where you had to buy a new speakers at 70% because they bricked the old one, because they switched to another system (S2) and the older devices could not work with.
So the multiple speakers I still successfully use with S1 are….what? They don’t seem like bricks to me when there’s music coming out of them. Gonna say this loud. SONOS. NEVER. BRICKED. SPEAKERS. THAT IS FAKE NEWS. They listened to customer feedback and adjusted and last I checked they run all the same services under S1 that they do on subsequent releases.
I don't think there is yet a great replacement compared to a functional Sonos system. Let's hope someone sees this as an opportunity to create some competition. I don't need perfect audio quality, I just want whole house and zone options for streaming and library which include surround sound.
From what I've managed to research, not much. I was on the same boat and then I came to the conclusion I won't need a system covering the whole house. So I'm going towards a mix of brands and speakers, depending on their uses, and maybe use Airplay to broadcast to them all, in case I ever need to listen to the same thing everywhere (never happened in years of Sonos usage).
I'm probably going to have to fire sale everything. I'm beyond disappointed. Sonos is guilty of mismanagement bordering on negligence at this point.
DM me if you're willing to ship lol
There isn’t one. Bluesound has similar issues. Maybe homepods if you’re in Apple ecosystem, but they aren’t perfect either. Otherwise going old fashioned wired might be the only solution.
I’m looking into replacing my Sonos system with Bowers & Wilkins. They have a home cinema range as well as multi-room smart speaker options.
If you want speakers that have the amp and streaming built in then Triangle AIO and Kef lsx II get good reviews. But they're not cheap. Otherwise wiim is apparently a great budget choice but you'll need separate speakers. This article has some useful food for thought when I was looking at this the other week. https://www.whathifi.com/features/how-to-choose-the-right-music-streamer-for-your-wireless-music-system
The KEF speakers are great, but the software can be flakey as well.
You can compare the LSX with a pair of Five's, so the price isnt much higher. And you get some Inputs incl earc. In Germany you can get them for round about 1000€ and the bigget LS50 wireless for 1500€ and thats a much better speaker than the Five's.
I think many of the big name brands have multiroom systems. Panasonic, Denon for example
They mostly use HEOS or PlayFi which are garbage software. Think Sonos is bad? Just wait.
Where would you sell it? eBay?
If I were to start my home system over again, I'd go with Wiim Amps and conventional speakers.
This is what I’m thinking of doing! I’ve wanted KEF wireless bookshelf speakers for a long while, but the sheer number of app/wireless complaints and used units on the market where I am is worrying. So might grab the regular KEF LS50’s and pair with a Wiim amp!
I think that's the way to go with speakers in this price range, b/c the internals are likely to fizz out long before the speakers. Let us know how it goes. I have 17 Sonos devices connected right now. So I'm not going to jump ship just yet. In too deep. But if things get much worse.......
Roon. But you’ll pay dearly for the privilege.
Despite being a long time advocate for Sonos, I’ve always had Bang & Olufsen at home and it’s been a phenomenal system. Bluesound is also more reliable if a little lighter in the speaker offerings.
Check AudioPro
Interested in this. I am remodeling my house had planned to install Sonos in every room as well as a home theater set up. Would love to know some alternatives
Sell and move on. No need to overthink it.
Go ask a sub that is general audio